2005 Chevrolet Suburban recalls and problems

The 2005 Chevrolet Suburban has 6 safety recalls and 129 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at any Chevrolet dealer.

Recalls
6
Complaints
129
Crashes / fires
4 / 1
Injuries / deaths
4 / 0

Recalls may cover only some 2005 Chevrolet Suburban vehicles. Check your VIN at NHTSA ↗ to see open recalls for your exact car.

2005 Chevrolet Suburban recalls

Recall 06V-289: Engine and Engine Cooling

Reported Aug 3, 2006 · 38,439 vehicles affected · GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

Problem: On certain trucks equipped with an 8.1l v8 (Rpo l8-VIN g) engine have a condition in which the engine fuel rail pulse damper retainer clip may fracture resulting in inadequate retention of the damper.

Risk: If the damper comes loose, a fuel leak may result. Fuel leakage, in the presence of an ignition source, could result in a fire.

Fix: Dealers will replace the engine fuel rail pulse damper retainer clip free of charge. The recall began on august 31, 2006. Owners may contact chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438 and gmc trucks at 1-866-996-9463.

Recall 05V-163: Seat Belts

Reported Apr 22, 2005 · 1,359,824 vehicles affected · GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

Problem: On certain crew cab pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles, the 2nd row center occupant seat belt routing may make it difficult to position the lap portion of the safety belt low around the hips of occupants, especially smaller occupants, seated in this position. Appropriate use of a child seat or booster seat, as recommended for small children, does improve the fit condition for this user group. In addition to instructions on proper infant and young child restraint (With child seats or boosters), special verbiage for restraining older child is included in the owner's manual. Also, the suggested seat belt fit/routing for adults, irrespective of seating position, is described in the owner's manual text.

Risk: A lap portion of the seat belt routing that is not low and snug on the hips can allow the lap belt to ride up on an occupant's abdomen instead of fitting low around their hipbones, and therefore, can expose them to more risk of abdominal and internal organ injury.

Fix: Dealers will cut open the guide loop, remove a portion of the loop, and then the remaining two sides should be folded over and secured with a retainer free of charge. The recall began on july 21, 2005. Owners may contact cadillac at 1-866-982-2339, chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438, gmc at 1-866-996-9463, or hummer at 1-800-732-5493.

Recall 05V-103: Service Brakes, Hydraulic

Reported Mar 18, 2005 · 707 vehicles affected · GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

Problem: On certain sport utility vehicles, the brake pedal pushrod retainer may be missing. If the retainer is missing, the brake booster pushrod could disengage from the brake pedal.

Risk: This could result in a loss of brakes which could result in a crash.

Fix: Dealers will inspect the vehicles for the brake pedal pushrod retainer and install one if it is missing free of charge. The manufacturer began contacting owners by telephone on march 10, 2005. Owners may contact chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438 or gmc at 1-866-996-9463.

Recall 05V-055: Power Train

Reported Feb 14, 2005 · 7,194 vehicles affected · GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

Problem: Certain sport utility vehicles equipped with an automatic transmission, fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 102, "transmission shift lever sequence, starter interlock and transmission braking effect." under certain vehicle starting conditions, the shift lever position indicator located in the instrument panel cluster may not illuminate. If the shift lever position indicator does not illuminate, the driver may not know which gear the vehicle is in.

Risk: The vehicle may move in an unintended direction resulting in possible injury to others outside of the vehicle.

Fix: Dealers will reprogram the instrument panel cluster free of charge. The recall began on february 14, 2005. Owners may contact cadillac at 1-866-982-2339, chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438, and gmc at 1-866-996-9463.

Recall 05V-043: Service Brakes, Hydraulic

Reported Feb 8, 2005 · 77,411 vehicles affected · GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

Problem: Certain trucks, sport utility vehicles, and vans equipped with bosch hydro-boost brake assemblies, the hydraulic brake booster pressure accumulator may crack and separate from the hydro-boost assembly during normal operating conditions.

Risk: If a separation occurred and the hood of the vehicle were open, fragments from the accumulator could cause injury to people in the immediate area. The presence of this crack or fractured surface could allow the hydraulic fluid to leak from the accumulator circuit of the booster assembly. The loss of fluid would cause increased steering and braking effort and a crash may occur without prior warning.

Fix: Dealers will test the hydro-boost assembly for functional operation of the two-function valve. If the hydro-boost assembly fails the test, dealers will replace the assembly free of charge. The recall began on march 23, 2005. Owners may contact chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438, gmc trucks at 1-866-996-9463 and hummer at 1-800-732-5493.

Recall 04V-376: Fuel System, Gasoline

Reported Aug 2, 2004 · 1,103 vehicles affected · GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

Problem: On certain sport utility vehicles and pickup trucks equipped with 5.3l (Rpo l59) v8 engines, the engine fuel rail crossover tube retainer screws were not manufactured to specifications and may break.

Risk: If the tube retainer screw breaks, fuel could leak from the fuel rail crossover joint, the engine may stall and, if an ignition source were present, an engine compartment fire could occur.

Fix: Dealers will inspect the fuel rail crossover tube and, if necessary, replace the retainer screws. Owners were notified by telephone on july 30, 2004, with a followup owner letter began august 5, 2004. Owners should contact chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438 or gmc at 1-866-996-9463. Note: the GM bulletin lists the tahoe and yukon models because canadian vehicles are included in the bulletin. No U.S. Tahoe or yukon vehicles are included in the U.S. Campaign.

2005 Chevrolet Suburban problems reported by owners

Problem areaReports
Electrical System38
Service Brakes18
Power Train15
Structure11
Air Bags10
Vehicle Speed Control8
Service Brakes, Hydraulic7
Latches/Locks/Linkages6
Engine6
Steering5
Unknown or Other5
Fuel/Propulsion System5

Most reported parts

  • Electrical System › Instrument Cluster/Panel — 15
  • Power Train › Automatic Transmission — 6
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip — 5
  • Structure › Body › Hatchback/Liftgate — 5
  • Structure › Body — 4
  • Latches/Locks/Linkages › Hatchback/Liftgate › Lock — 3
  • Visibility › Rearview Mirrors/Devices › Exterior — 2
  • Power Train › Transfer Case (4-Wheel Drive) — 2

Typical mileage at the time of the problem: 84,000 miles (median of owner reports).

Problems that are not covered by a recall are paid repairs; labor rates follow local mechanic pay — see what auto mechanics earn in each state.

Recent 2005 Chevrolet Suburban complaints

Owner reports filed with NHTSA, as written (personal details removed). Complaints are not verified by NHTSA.

Service Brakes · reported Mar 24, 2023
The vehicle was idle for about 4 months. I took it to a carwash to clean the dust off. Upon returning (abt a 2 mile trip) the brakes failed and steam was coming out from under the hood. I opened the hood and brake fluid was sprayed all over the driver's side of the engine and wheel well. A brake line had rusted through and burst. Fortunately, I made it home carefully because I had noticed the brakes were soft.
Steering · reported Mar 19, 2023
This vehicle has less than 84,000 miles on it, and the chassis or frame is rotted. The rear anti sway bar already rotted off it, and the front bar is hanging down on the passenger side. I have photos of this, but don't know how to download them. The body has a little rot here, and there, but that is repairable. I spent a lot of money in purchasing this vehicle, and I expected it to last a very long time. The interior is almost like new. I am thinking about putting a tort claim about this to GM. Please help me all you can. I forgot to write that I also spent extra money for it to be…
Vehicle Speed Control · reported Oct 25, 2022
Speedometer stops working intermittently. This is a safety hazard as the operator cannot tell the speed that the vehicle is operating. It seems to occur randomly.
Electrical System · reported Oct 25, 2022
This defect pertains to gear indicator on the instrument panel. During the daylight hours the light indicating the gear the car is in (park, neutral, drive, etc.) is impossible to read. At night you can just barely read the gear indicators. The dimness of the lights behind this gear indicator gauge is a safety hazard because you cannot tell what gear you are in during the day. It is an expensive repair because the instrument panel needs to be removed to fix the problem.
Structure · at 84,000 miles · reported Sep 7, 2022
The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Suburban. The contact stated upon taking the vehicle to an independent mechanic for tire replacement, he was informed that the entire chassis was severely corroded. The dealer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the manufacturer for assistance. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 84,000.

Other Chevrolet Suburban years

Compare all Chevrolet Suburban years · All Chevrolet models

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2005 Chevrolet Suburban have any recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 6 recalls for the 2005 Chevrolet Suburban: 06V-289 (engine and engine cooling), 05V-163 (seat belts), 05V-103 (service brakes, hydraulic), 05V-055 (power train), 05V-043 (service brakes, hydraulic) and more. Not every vehicle is affected, so check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What is the most common problem with the 2005 Chevrolet Suburban?

Owners report electrical system problems most often (38 reports), followed by service brakes (18). The typical mileage when problems were reported is about 84,000 miles.

Are Chevrolet recall repairs free?

Yes. Safety recall repairs are free at authorized Chevrolet dealers, whether you are the first owner or bought the car used.